Hey kids, Comics!
As a long time comic book reader and computer geek I have always been interested in the integration of the mediums. For the past few years Marvel and the other big name publishers have been releasing comics through digital distribution on the iPad. This has been great for me as someone who doesn’t always have time to make it to Heroes comic shop every Wednesday. I am the kind of collector who likes to read new issues when they come out and then buy the collected editions as graphic novels. I can simply download the latest issue to my iPad and read it anywhere and wait for it to be released as a graphic novel when the story is finished. This also helps a great deal when I want to catch up on some of the harder to find and/or more expensive titles I may not have had the chance to read the first time they were printed.
Marvel has just taken digital comics to the next level with the integration of Marvel’s new “Augmented Reality” App (Marvel AR for short). As much as I love reading comics on my iPad I still prefer the old school feel of the comic book in my hand. Marvel AR now integrates the printed medium of the comic book with the digital capabilities of the iPad. Many new printed issues now come with small “AR Markers” that, when placed in front of the iPad’s camera, activate DVD like extra features. Think of it as QR codes codes for comics mixed with DVD extra features.
I highly recommend checking out the video link for a great demo of IronMan flying right out of the pages of Marvel’s Avengers vs. X-men limited series. They also have a great interview with Axel Alonso (Marvels Editor-in-Chief) about the future of mixing the mediums together in the digital age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZJo19udwHU
Finally If you have enjoyed any of the big Marvel movies this year I highly recommend checking out London’s best comic store: Heroes Cards and Comics located in Downtown London on Dundas St. Tell them Scott Henry sent you! http://www.heroescomics.ca/
Catch ya on the flip side!
Scott Henry
Geek Culture Enthusiast/ Mac Outpost Hero
